Cable cars make their way down a busy street in San Francisco’s financial district, with the Bay Bridge faintly visible in the background. Ten years after San Francisco introduced its Vision Zero initiative, the city continues to has dozens of traffic-related fatalities occurring annually. (Edison Wu)
In 2014, San Francisco set an ambitious goal: eliminate all traffic-related deaths by 2024 under the Vision Zero initiative. The city committed millions to improving road safety by redesigning dangerous intersections, lowering speed limits, and prioritizing pedestrian and cyclist safety. But a decade later, the city is far from reaching that goal. Traffic fatalities have remained persistently high, putting the plan’s effectiveness under scrutiny.
San Francisco recorded over 45 traffic-related deaths in 2023, surpassing the number of fatalities in 2014 when the program was launched. Early success saw fatalities drop to 20 in 2017, but the recent rise has residents questioning whether the current approach is enough to meet the original target.
*Data for 2024 is through Dec. 14
Map: Edison Wu • Source: San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency • Created by Leaflet
The map of fatal crashes reveals that these incidents are spread across the city, with several occurring near roads flagged as part of the "high-injury network," where the majority of severe traffic crashes happen. For those living in these areas, navigating daily commutes feels perilous, with dangerous intersections and speeding vehicles a constant threat.
The data shows pedestrians continue to be disproportionately affected, accounting for nearly half of all traffic deaths. High-speed crashes involving motorcyclists and drivers also contribute significantly to the rising fatality count.
*Data for 2024 is through September 30.
Chart: Edison Wu • Source: San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency • Created by D3.js
With the 2024 Vision Zero deadline fast approaching, it’s evident that much more needs to be done. Dangerous driving behaviors, particularly speeding, have worsened during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, Mayor London Breed announced new measures in 2023 to improve road safety, such as expanding the ban on right turns at red lights, increasing police presence at high-risk intersections, and installing more speed cameras.
However, enforcement has been a significant challenge. Traffic citations in San Francisco have plummeted in recent years. In 2014, officers issued more than 10,000 citations per month, but by 2023, that number had dropped to fewer than 350 citations monthly—a 96% decrease. This sharp decline in enforcement, which began even before the pandemic, raises concerns about the city’s ability to ensure safer streets.
As San Francisco moves into the next phase of Vision Zero, the central question remains: Will these new measures be enough to reverse the trend and make the city’s streets safer? The reality is, the path forward is far more complex than city officials may have anticipated a decade ago.
This report is based on data from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and includes analysis of traffic fatalities from 2014 through 2024. The interactive map visualizes locations of fatal traffic crashes, while the stacked bar chart breaks down fatalities by victim type (pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist, and driver). You can find the codes and data on my GitHub page .